Improvement in darning attachments for sewing-machines



J. SKARDON. Darn ing Attachment for Sewing-Machines.

Nd. 219,025. Patented Aug. 26,1879.

WZ ZZESSEEI I N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES SKARDON, OF GINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO EDWARD RHODES ANTHONY, OF SAMEPLAOE.

IMPROVEM ENT IN DARNING ATTACHMENTS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 219,025., dated August 26,1879; application filed September 5, 1878.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SKARDON, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Darning Attachments for Sewing-Machines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of my device. Fig. 2 is a side view with the clamping-lever raised. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the thread frame'or holder. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the thread-frame and the ring on the pivoted clamping-lever. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of a guard. Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified form of a thread-frame; and Fig. 7, a plan of the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a device by means of which stockings or other articles can be held while being darned with the sewing-machine; and it consists in the construction and combination of devices, as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings, A represents the bed-plate, having at one end a circular opening, the inner edge of which is slightly flared. This circular opening is surrounded by a flange, a, for the purpose of increasing the thickness of the bed-plate at this particular portion.

Extending from one side of the bed-plate A, opposite the circular opening, is an arm, B, which has pivoted to its outer end a flat steel spring, 0, which bends back on the bed-plate A, as shown in Fig. 1.. The point f of this spring is used to hold down the goods. Any number of these arms and springs may be used, and I do not, therefore, confine myself to the use of one arm only.

On the rear end of the bed-plate A are two lugs, (3, between which the leverE is pivoted. One end of a latch, D, is pivoted to this end of the bed-plate, slightly at one side of the lever E. This latch has on its upper face an incline or wedge-like part, d, which serves to lock the lever E by being pressed under the end H of said lever.

On the forward end of lever E a ring, F, is formed, in such a position as to coincide with the circular opening in the bed-plate A, in which opening the ring F fits. The inner edge of this ring has an outward flare, and the outer edge is slightly beveled to coincide with the flare of the circular opening in the plate.

An annular recess is cut in the lower inside edge of ring F, and a thread frame or holder, I, of suitable size to fit the annular recess, is placed therein. is provided at its outer edge with oppositelylocated notches (see Fig. 3) to receive the thread which is wound on the frame, as shown by dotted lines K.

Onv the side of the ring F opposite to which the lever E is attached is an arm or guard, Gr, extending upward and outward. Any number of like arms may be placed at different points around this ring. The use of these arms is to prevent the fabric outside of the ring from interfering with the work inside thereof.

In using my device the lever E is raised, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring I) having been previously turned to one side, as shown. The goods are then laid upon the bed-plate A in such a position that the hole to be darned is inside the circular opening in the bed-plate. The thread-frame I, with the thread already wound upon it, is then placed over the hole which is to be mended, when the ring F on the lever E is pressed down on the threadframe, and the lever E securely locked in position by inserting the wedge-like latch D under the end H of said lever, thus clamping the goods firmly between the circular opening of the bed-plate and the ring F. The end f of the spring I) is then raised over the goods, thus allowing the needle-bar of the sewingmachine to have a free and clear space to do its work, and also enabling the operator to see and handle the work with facility.

In using this device the presser-foot is taken from the presser-foot bar of the sewing-machine, and the feed or stitch made as short as possible. The work, when clamped, as above described, is passed under the needle and fed to and fro, moving it gradually to the right or to the left until the hole is well covered. The work, still firmly clamped in the device, is then turned to right angles with its former position and the sewing operation repeated.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of a thread frame or holder, which I prefer, especially for darning large holes. This is formed The thread frame or holder I I in a manner similar to the thread-frame already described, except that the teeth J project downward from the side instead of being formed in the outer edge of the frame.

It will be seen that in using this frame the same may be removed from the goods when the hole has been darned by the sewing-machine without cutting the ends of the thread or yarn next to the holder, as is necessary with the thread-frame shown in Fig. 3, since the yarn is looped around the teeth J, and readily slips off the same as the frame is raised.

For certain kinds of work it is desirable to use a supplementary clamping-lever (shown in Fig. 5) in place of the arm or guard G. Here the guard G and arm B, with its spring, are dispensed with, and the plate A is formed with anvextension, A, to which is pivoted, in a manner similar to the arm E, a curved arm, G, which, when locked in position by the latch D on the plate at the inner side, assists in pressing down the ring F, and also serves as a guard in place of arm Gr.

The same needle and thread are used with this device as in ordinary sewing; and on fine fabrics the thread frame or holder is used or not, according to the option of the operator.

T disclaim' the thread frame or holder I as my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of bed-plate A, having lugs O'and circular opening, as shown, with arm B, having spring bf, latch D, with wedgelike part d, and lever E, having ring F and arm or guard G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

' 2. The combination of bed-plate A, having lugs O and circular opening, as shown, with arm B, having spring bf, latch D, with wedgelike part d. and lever E, having ring F and arm or guard G, and thread frame or holder I, all substantially as shown and described. JAMES SKARDON.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. HARROP, J. S. ZERBE. 

